I have an 09 GT with the 18" polished aluminum wheels. Does anyone know for sure if they are clearcoated? They don't appear to be but I want to make sure before I start trying to remove some light scratches.

Also, does anyone have any suggestions for a good light abrasive polish that works well on polished aluminum wheels?

 

dont know if there clear coated or not...... but i use optimum wheel/metal polish, I've tryed alot of different brands and they work the best so far.

not to cheap, but i find that it take's alot less of the stuff, with alot less time then the other stuff i used.

 

I'm not sure it the stock wheels are clear coated. An easy way to find out would be to take some quality polish and test a little spot, if the rag turns black you are polishing metal and they are not clear coated. Either way I suggest using the most mild cleaner you can (think soap and water) and follow with a nice coat of wax to help them stay clean.

 

I'm pretty sure those wheels use the same plasticized clearcoat finish that the 17-in painted Bullitt wheels use. It's very hard to see the coating against aluminum, but it is much easier to see against the painted finish of the Bullitts. I have the 17's, and all I ever use is soap and water. Anything stronger risks stripping the wax from the wheels.

Speaking of wax, since the wheels are clearcoated, you should wax them on occasion just as you do your car's paint. If the wheels are so dirty you have to use a wheels cleaner, definitely wax them after cleaning.

 

Thanks for the replies guys!

 

I am not sure about it.

 

Thanks for clearing that up. Trying to boost your post count?

 

LoL awesome.

Anyways, if they're stock wheels, they're clear coated. I would personally buy some Purple Power from autozone, its like 5 dollars a gallon of something like that. Clean them up real nice with that a soap and water, than take an old peice of clay, and hit them with that. Than polish with w.e you use on your paint, and If you feel like it, get something like Poor Boys wheel glaze to seal them. But you can use a regular wax, it just won't last as long. As said before, treat you wheels just as you do your paint. I personally take my wheels off to get every bit of dirt from the barrels before I do what I mentioned above.

If you've got something like CCW's or HRE's, don't use that method lol.

- Sean

 

Hit then with a block of clay, polish them up and then paint.